64 HISTORY OF 



secreting himself by day, and coming at night 

 to the colony to rob the huts and tents. 



Economy is one of those virtues which could 

 hardly be expected to reign among convicts ; 

 they were so destitute of it that they would 

 not manage to use their provisions so as to last 

 the week, but by devouring the whole in the 

 beginning of the week, were totally without for 

 the latter part. 



One of these improvident men made his 

 week's allowance of flour (which was at that 

 time Slbs.) into cakes, and eat them at one 

 meal. The consequence was, he was taken 

 both senseless and speechless, and next day died. 

 A convict, to whose care was entrusted the 

 cattle, let 4 cows and 2 bulls stray away, and did 

 not inform the Governor of the loss for £ days, 

 every exertion was made use of to recover them, 

 but after a fruitless search for many days, they 

 were given up as lost. As the weather became 

 colder, the fish deserted the coast so much that 

 few were to be caught, and from this cause the 

 natives suffered so much, that one old man was 

 found nearly starved to death. On the 22d a 

 slight shock of an earthquake was observed, it 

 lasted two or three seconds, but was so slight, 

 that many did not feel it. The Prince of Wales, 

 Alexander, Borrowdale, and Friendship, com- 

 pleted their stores, and sailed for England on 

 the 14th of July, and on the 20th the Supply 

 sailed with provisions for Norfolk Island. Two 

 transports now only remained, and every pre- 

 paration was making for clearing and discharg- 



